Just about perfect Jetta

Late last year Volkswagen took a fresh, new look at their Jetta line-up. First showcased to the SA motorist back in 1980, Jetta has proved to be a rather popular model — albeit amongst the older generation — and Volkswagen don't seem to mind this mild criticism one little bit.

Often rebuked for appearing to be just a Golf with a boot that’s clearly not the case with this sixth generation model because I was told on good authority “every visible internal and external panel is new”.

A rather successful model globally for Volkswagen, Jetta can stand tall in own right because more than 10 million have been built — with 260 000 of them finding homes in our local market since their introduction back in 1980. Some 90 mm longer at 4,64 m, along with a wheelbase increase of 73 mm to 2,65 m, means a bigger Jetta for all (funny, isn’t it, every new model, no matter the brand, is always somehow bigger in just about every direction!)

Under the bonnet

There are seven models of new Jetta in five engine configurations but it’s the two diesel units that I’m concentrating on here in the form of a 1,6-litre TDi version (77 kW) and a top-of-the-range 2,0-litre derivative (103 kW).

Factor in three spec levels — Trendline, Comfortline and Highline — and it’s little wonder that VW reckon they have a car for everyone. A little surprisingly, I was told that the ‘volume seller’ was almost certain to be the 90 kW TSi version, but I tend to disagree — especially after driving the 1,6 TDi version, because the astute South African motorist is definitely warming to the idea of a turbodiesel vehicle standing on their driveway …

In the 2,0-litre turbodiesel version with its haul-ass performance it can brag a tank range offering of 900 km at the legal speed limit  — you could drive this particular model all day long and never feel tired. Little wonder then that the Jetta range was ostensibly designed for those whose job might entail plenty of driving — such as company reps, for instance.

A week spent recently with the 1,6-litre turbodiesel (seen above) would be my particular choice of Jetta, the on-board computer gently informing us at 120 km/h that our expected average fuel consumption rarely rose above the 5,4 litres per 100 km/h … the engine turning over at a lazy 1 950 rpm.

Transmission options

Across the board are five- and six-speed manual gearboxes but the 1,6-litre TDi version does, however, have the option of a seven-speed DSG ’box — surely another very good reason to consider this particular derivative …

Warranty and service

Three years/120 000 km, Volkswagen Automotion Plan: five years/90 000 km and servicing needs only at 15 000 km — petrol or diesel. (There’s also a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.) Be sure to check the latest prices with your nearest Volkswagen dealer.

To sum up, I’d say if you are a six-day a week travelling salesman/rep; have the need of the biggest cargo-carrying boot in it’s class at 510 litres (and who doesn’t come annual holiday time), while enjoying a thoroughly classy mode of transport, the new Jetta is surely well worth a closer look.